Arie Groenveld

World War II Veteran

Arie Groenveld, 83, a resident of Manteca for 50 years, passed peacefully on June 26, 2009 of natural causes.

He was born on December 5, 1925 in Hoogkerk, the Netherlands, to Reijer Groenveld and Petronella (Nel) Groenveld-Kistemaker. Arie was the fifth of nine children and grew up in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands. He married Annie Nijholt in 1955 in Enschede, the Netherlands. They emigrated to the United States in 1956 and settled in the San Joaquin Valley. Arie had several jobs, often concurrently, before he became an insurance agent for the Woodmen Accident and Life Co. He continued his education, which had been interrupted by World War II, and received his CLU degree. He had a very successful career until his retirement in 1990. His hobbies were stamp collecting, gardening and travelling the globe with Annie. He had a very close bond with his friends in the “Kaart Club”, with whom he played Klaverjas regularly. Arie served as a Commissioner on the Manteca Planning Commission under his friend Mayor Ed Pitts. He also was a charter member of the Manteca Historical Society and was a docent at their museum. The Rotary Club was one of Arie’s favorite activities.

He was a charter member of the Manteca Rotary Club since 1959, which he served as President in 1976. Arie became a Paul Harris Fellow in 1984, an honor which was also later bestowed on Annie, his children and their spouses. He was devoted to his family, both immediate and extended. Two of Arie’s brothers and a sister also emigrated to California and all 21 family members got together regularly for holidays and outings. Arie will also be remembered as a fixture every morning on Center Street, where he took his daily walk to the Post Office. His ready smile and sense of humor never deserted him, even when his health declined in his later years. He was a naturally inquisitive man with many interests who always enjoyed acquiring knowledge and finding answers. He often said of himself, “I’m not nosey; I just want to know everything.”

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Annie, and their son Reijer, his wife Lynn and their daughter Telka Walser and her husband Jerry; grandchildren, Sloane Kathryn and Reijer Arie Groenveld, and Jerry Reijer Walser; siblings Janie, Lena, Marijt, Bert (Dini), Piet (Ethel), Nel (Joris) and Reijer (Barbara); and in-laws Wim Barske, Hans Nijholt (Tini) and Wimmie Nijholt-Mooiweer and Cornelia Groenveld.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his son Eric; father and mother-in-law Geert Nijholt and Akke Nijholt-Cloo. His brother Klaas, brothers-in-law Joost, Jaap, Cor, Joop and Gerrit (Jannie), sisters-in-law, Klaske Barske-Nijholt and Tine Bodaan-Nijholt (Hans). His family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Meadowood SCU, for the extraordinary care and friendship they extended to Arie while he was there and to Hospice of San Joaquin and Edee Singer, RN ,for her time and kindness.

A memorial service will be held at P.L. Fry & Son Funeral Home, 290 N. Union Rd, Manteca at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, followed by a gathering of family and friends. Contributions may be made to the Manteca Rotary Club Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 1009, Manteca Ca 95336. An online guest book is also available for remembrances at www.plfryandson.com.